New Georgia law allows guns in restaurants, public transit

Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008

ATLANTA - Permitted gun owners in Georgia soon will be allowed to carry concealed weapons in restaurants that serve alcohol, aboard public transportation and in parks under a new law observers called a significant expansion of gun rights.

Experts said the bill signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue on Wednesday could signal a resurgence of pro-gun legislation that had been dormant since last year's Virginia Tech shootings. The National Rifle Association said in a statement that the law "represents the most comprehensive pro-gun reform measure to be enacted in nearly 20 years."

Perdue signed the law without comment. At a recent news conference, he noted it would apply only to about 300,000 Georgia residents holding concealed weapons permits who have passed criminal background checks.

Perdue, who has enjoyed strong support from the NRA, had been under pressure from a diverse coalition of groups to veto the measure. The Georgia Restaurant Association, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Atlanta's mass transit system and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin opposed it. Perdue expects the measure to face a legal challenge.

Alice Johnson, a lobbyist for Georgians for Gun Safety, said it already is too easy to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Unlike some states that require firearms training, Georgia simply requires a background check.

"We don't have any way of knowing anything about these people who have permits except that they have $15 and passed a fingerprint check," Johnson said.

OpenCarry.org, a Virginia-based gun rights group, said Georgia was one of only 13 states to ban guns in restaurants serving alcohol.

The bill's sponsor, state Rep. Tim Bearden, R-Villa Rica, who is a former police officer, called measure "the biggest gun reform bill in Georgia history."

He said critics of the bill were resorting to fear tactics.

Under the law that goes into effect July 1, restaurants can opt out if they post a sign saying they will not permit guns. The gun ban remains in place for bars or any restaurants making more than half their revenue from alcohol sales. Patrons packing a gun cannot drink alcohol.

Ron Wolf, chief executive officer of the Georgia Restaurant Association, called that unenforceable.

"I can't imagine a restaurant owner is going to tell his staff to ask someone if they have a gun when they take a drink order," Wolf said.